The Trust for Representative Democracy · The Trust for Representative Democracy Author: Karl T....
Transcript of The Trust for Representative Democracy · The Trust for Representative Democracy Author: Karl T....
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www.ncsl.org/trust
Trust for Representative Democracy
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Why?Need to counter public cynicism and distrustPresent a more positive and accurate view of legislaturesIf legislators and staff don’t defend the institution, who does?Return to ideas of framers of Constitution
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Public Cynicism18-24 year-old opinion
More than 50% say “You can’t trust politicians because they’re dishonest.”2/3 say “My generation’s voice is important but no one is listening.”9 of 10 say “A few big interests run the government.”
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Belief in Government Responsiveness
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“All they do is bicker.”85% of all ages say, “Elected officials would help more if they stopped talking and took action on problems.”The public attaches no value to deliberation--the debate, negotiation and compromise that are vital to our system.
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Causes of CynicismMessy legislative processesMedia focus on conflict Increasing group demandsPoliticians run against the systemElections/governing disconnectSocietal changes--more conflicting views of government
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Consequences of CynicismDemoralizing to elected officialsHinders recruitment of candidatesHarder to build consensusWeakens representative democracy
Term limits, tax and expenditure limitsPromotes alternatives
Electronic democracyStrong executives
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Trust for Representative DemocracyPublic education and outreach programRepresentative democracy works--not without flaws, but better than any conceivable alternative.www.ncsl.org/trust
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Back to School Program
America’s Legislators Back to School Program
•www.ncsl.org/backtoschool
•Online lesson plans correlated to state standards
•Resource materials for classroom use
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Legislators Back to School Program
Legislators teach aboutWhat it’s like to be a legislatorConflict, negotiation, compromise
Lesson plans and resources for classroomsPart of legislators’representational function
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Age-appropriate Resource Materials
Citizen Brain: Feeding on American Democracy
Video for 4th - 6th Grade
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American Democracy TelevisionFree programming to public, educational, governmental (PEG) channels450 stations in 50 states
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The Thicket
www.ncsl.org/thethicket
A bipartisan blog by and for legislative junkies…enter at your own risk!
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Project CitizenA civic education program for middle school students that:
Promotes participation in state and local governmentTeaches kids about public policy
Cosponsored by NCSL with the Center for Civic Education